Can opener



- G. A. PATTBERG May v V26, 1925;

CAN OPENER Filed Jungn 15 1922 /v/l/EMTQR @50mg A PATTBEEG y- HT Tomve/ Patented May 26, 1925.

UNITED STATES -enone-E A. rArfrnnae, or sAN LEANDRO, CALIFORNIA, AssreNon 'ro nLiaAzenfrH PATENT oFElcE.

PATTBERG, F SANV LEANDRO, CALIFORNIA.

CAN OPENER.

Application filed June 15, 1922. Serial No. 568,504.

`To all whom tana-y concern: v

Be it known that I, GEORGE PArrnEno. a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the ci-ty of San Leandro, county of Alameda, State ot California, have ina-de a new and useful invention, to wit, Improvements .in Can Qpeners; and I `do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, concise, and exact description of the same. Y, This invention relates particularly toan Aimproved scissor type of can opener.

The object of the invention is to provide a `pair of cross-.pivoted handle members having an engaging and 'cutting means thereon for removing the sealed tops of cans oi cuttingsheet metal. f

i A; further object of the invention cons-ists in providing a device that ywill be `superior Ain point `of simplicity, inexpensiveness of construction, positiveness ot operation and 'facility `and convenience in use and general efficiency. Other `obj ects and advantages will appear as this 'description progresses.

In this speciiication and the annexed drawings,"the invention isv illustrated in the form considered to be thelbest, butit is to be understoodthat the invention is not limited to such form, because it may be embodied in other forms; -and it is also to be further understood that in and by the claims following the description, it is desired to cover the invention in whatsoever form it may be embodied.

In the accompanying one sheet of drawilles,

Fig. 1 represents a plan View of a can opener constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the can opener from the under side.

In detail, the construction illustrated in the drawings comprises the members 1 and 2, cross-pivoted at 3 to provide the respective extended and projecting ends 4 and 5. Each of the members l and 2 are preferably stamped from a light gauge of sheet metal, the handle portion 6 of the member `1 being rolled over to present a substantially curved exterior and the corresponding portion 7 of the opposite member 2 being provided with a series of notches or undulations 8 intended to receive the fingers. An externally flanged cover 9 is adapted to vlie on the upper tace of theV handle 2 and is providedwi-th an internal flange, through which the pivot pin 3 is adapted to pass. A spiral spring 10 is mounted Vwithin the interior of ,thev cover 9 -10 projects through thecover 9 and slidably engages the interior 'face of the handle 6 of the member 1. The spring thus -functions to keep the respective handle members 1 and 2 spread apart and materially aids in thecan opening operation. Y

In order to operate the device, the handles G and 7 would he placed in the hand, lpalm up, so that'v the thumb might engage the rounded handle 6 on the member 1 andthe respective'iinge.rs1lie, one each, in the grooves 8 provided on the handle 7 of the member 2. Experimentshave proven that the most eiii-` cient operationofithe can opener is obtained by operating the handles with the palm up and the ,formation of the respective handles, in the manner described, thus' causes the in'- strument to benaturally grasped by Ithe handk in the correct operating position. Adjacent the extended end 4 o1 the handle inemberl, a serrated projection 12 is rigidly secured thereon, said projection comprising a short cylindrical member formed of a high grade of tool steel and with a predetermined number of teeth cut around its periphery. The edge 13 of the extended end 4 is out on the arc of a circle and is slightly serrated or knurled.

The extension 5 on the handle member 2 has a plate or link 14 pivoted thereto byl the pin 16, said pin having a depending or projecting head 17 thereon, substantially of the same length as the serrated projection 12. The axes of the pin 16; and serrated projection 12 are spaced on an equal radius from the pivotv 3. The end of the plate `14 has alaterally projecting shoulder 18 forincd integrally therewith, the inner edge 19 of said shoulder being cut or formed on the arc of a circle of the same radius as thatl of the end edge 13 on the extension 4 of the handle member 1.

A shouldered button 2O is rigidly secured on the upper side of the plate 14 and to which a cutting blade or knife 21 is secured by the-screw 22. The blade21 is adapted to be received in a slot or depression formed on the edge of the plate 14 so that the end of the said knife Will depend from and extend below the under face of the plate 111. rIhe knife 21. is provided with a pointed end 23 to facilitate its penetrating through a metal can and has sharpened edges.

rhe construction of the can opener is such that the handles b' and if of the members 1 and 2 may be positioned in substantial parallel alignment, in close proximity, so that the pivoted plate le'l may be partially rotated topermit-the hook-shaped projection 18 on the said. plate being passed over and around the curved edge of the extended end 1 of the handle member 1. By releasing the pressure of thehand on'thehandles, the spring` will tend to expand vand force the handle members apart. Spreading a'etion is pr vented by the hook-shaped end 19 of the linl 14 engaging the curved edge 13 on the opposite handle member te thus hold the respective parts in closed, inoperative position. v

The tool is operated by'placing the handles Gand 7 in hand with the palm'up so that the lingers are securely placed in the notches 8 of the handle member 2. By squeezing the handles together againstrthe tension ofthe spring 10, the looking Contact between the hooked end of the plate 14 and end 13 of the handle member 1 Would be broken, permitting the looking means to be pivot-ed free of engagement.' In the 'opened position, the ends 4l and 5` of the respective handle members 1 and 2 would be placed overthe top of a can to be opened so that the depending projections 12and 17 on the -said respective members might be placed into engagement with the periphery` or side of the can. In this position, aA downward. pressure would be applied to the button head 20, forcing the knife 21 into and through the can materiah The lingers of the hand Would then be closed to thus draw the ends el and 5 of the handle members together and thus impart a short movement of the knife 2l. Upon releasing the pressure on the handles, the spring 1U would force the same apart into a spread position to permit a repetition ofthe intermittent closing together of the handles bythe lingers of the operator, thus continually advancing and drawing the knife 21 through the can material for any length of cnt desired.

Haring thus described this invention, What I-claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is can opener eomn'isine' a )air of o)- r ma posed handle members pivoted together; spring means for separating said handle members; a plate pivotally mounted on an end of one of said handle members, opposite the handle portionv thereof, having 4a lateral projection thereon to detachably engage the end of the other handle member to hold the pair of handle members together; and cooperative can cutting means on' the ends of the handle members, opposite the handle portionsthereof. l

In testimony whereof,A I have hereunto set my hand at San Francisco, California, this 19th day of May, 1922.

GEORGE A, PATTBERGV.` l In the presence ofv LINCOLN V. JOHNSON. 

